Aurora Farmers Fair War Veterans Presentation Set for Thursday

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 9:58 AM

By Travis Thayer @eagle993

Six area veterans will be recognized.

Left to right: Jim Trester, Bob Ewbank, Jay Collars, Jim Fulton, Tom Steelman, Alonzo Caswell. Photos provided.

(Aurora, Ind.) – Six area veterans will be celebrated on Thursday night at the Aurora Farmers Fair.

The annual War Veterans Presentation will take place on Stage 1 starting at 6:05 p.m.

This year’s honorees are Jim Trester, Bob Ewbank, Jay Collars, Jim Fulton, Tom Steelman, and Alonzo Caswell.

The Aurora Farmers Fair has long shown appreciation for area veterans. That is especially evident this year as the fair’s theme is Honoring Those Who Have Served.

See bios for this year’s War Veterans Presentation below.

Tom Steelman bio below:

Tom Steelman was born on December 11, 1952 to Marvin and Helen Steelman at Batesville, Indiana. He had three brothers: Eddie, Bill (deceased) and Tim. He grew up in Lawrenceburg, Indiana over by the old Gompie’s Bicycle Shop, where the CVS Pharmacy is today.

He went to St. Lawrence School and graduated from Lawrenceburg Consolidated High School (LCHS) in 1972.

Tom also earned an Associates Degree from Ivy Tech.

He was inducted in the United States Army on

August 1. 1972 and took basic training at Ft. Knox, KY and then went to Ft. Hood, Texas for AIT and he remained there for the rest of his Army Tour of Duty. He was honorably discharged on August 6, 1975 at the rank of Sergeant (E-5). He earned the National Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Expert Badge for the M-14 and M-16. He was assigned to an Infantry Unit at Ft. Hood that was the Red Eye Air Defense and this unit later on used the Stinger Missiles.

Tom married Kissy Drew on February 1, 1975, and in just under four months, they will celebrate their 50th wedding or Golden Anniversary. They were blessed with three daughters: Heather Saylor (Bryon); Laura and Heidi Jones (Chris). There are 14 grandchildren and they keep Grandma & Grandpa very busy.

Tom worked for Cincinnati Incorporated and then went to work at the Indiana & Michigan (I&M) Power Plant in

Lawrenceburg (AEP Tanners Creek Plant) where he was an electrician and retired after 34 years of service.

Tom is a long time member of Lawrenceburg American Legion Post 239, where he served in the Color Guard for many years. Today, he is a faithful & dedicated member of the Southeastern Indiana Honor Guard. He is a life member of the Southeastern Indiana Vietnam Veterans of America, Lary D. Fogle Chapter 71 and Lary was a classmate of Tom’s brother, Bill. He is a long time member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1231, member of the 40 & 8 and a member of St. Lawrence Church in Lawrenceburg.

Tom is proud of his service in the Army and considers it an honor to participate with the Honor Guard to make sure a departed veteran is paid that final respect with the presentation of the burial flag to the family, the firing of the three volleys with the rifles and the playing of TAPS.

God Bless America.